Singapore: Tampines Rovers and Muang Thong United played out an entertaining 1-1 draw in their AFC Cup Group G tie at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore.

Both sides had opened their campaigns with comfortable wins and the fans were treated to a high-quality match, with Aleksandar Duric opening the scoring for Tampines before Phichitphong Choeichiu equalised just after the half-hour mark.

The visitors settled quickly into their passing game on the artificial surface and Thai international Teerasil Dangda almost fired them into a deserved lead when his low effort hit Hassan Sunny’s right post with the goalkeeper well beaten.

Hassan then played a big role in the home side taking the lead midway through the first-half.

His long punt upfield caught the Thais flat-footed and found evergreen striker Duric racing clear on goal.

The prolific 40-year-old made no mistake as he drove his shot into the far corner for his seventh goal of the season and second in as many AFC Cup games.

Muang Thong should have been level immediately when Ivorian Siaka Dagno beat the offside trap but shot straight at the Tampines keeper.

The Thais were not to be denied after 31 minutes, though, as they equalised with one of the contenders for goal of the season.

Thailand international Phichitphong smashed a stunning drive into the top corner from 30 yards, leaving Hassan grasping at thin air.

Tampines’ Korean defender Park Yo-seb almost restored their advantage with a point-blank header moments later but it was just too high.

The dangerous Phichitphong then let fly with another long-range effort that Hassan did well to smother.

The second-half was played out in pretty much the same vein, with both teams committed to throwing men forward in search of the winner.

Ivorian Christian Kouakou’s solo effort on the hour mark drew a smart save from Hassan while substitute Anon Sangsanoi also went close for Muang Thong with a stoppage-time header.

However, it was the normally reliable Duric who was guilty of squandering the best chances to seal all three points for the home side.

He first side-footed wide with his weaker right foot when found unmarked in the box 14 minutes from time and a minute later, he chose to shoot straight at Kawin Thamsatchanan in the Muang Thong goal with two team-mates in space and screaming for the ball .